Open-end wrench with integral ratcheting means

ABSTRACT

In order to provide an open-end wrench which will ratchet in one direction to permit sequential strokes of the wrench without removing it from the element being tightened or loosened, one of the jaws is rendered controllably retractable. The retractable jaw is biased toward the unretracted position by means of a compression spring disposed behind the retractable jaw element which is oriented to move linearly in a guide slot angularly toward and away from the element being operated upon as the ratcheting function is carried out. A detent pin extends through the retractable jaw element in a direction normal to a flat surface grasped within the jaws and is spring loaded toward the jaw surface. The other end of the detent pin comprises an enlarged head portion which restrains the detent pin compression spring on its undersurface and is curved on its upper surface to function as a detent cooperating with a recess in the stationary portion of the jaw carrying the retractable jaw element. The detent pin serves to lock the retractable jaw element in the grasping position so long as a flat area of the grasped element is flush with the detent pin end which causes the head end of the pin to remain locked in the detent bore. However, when the direction of the wrench is reversed, the natural tendency of the flat area of the element being operated upon to move away from the jaw surface proximate the detent pin coupled with pressure exerted on the retractable jaw element in an area nearer the open end of the wrench permits the pin to lift slightly and relax the retractable jaw element which is pushed angularly rearwardly from its locked position and ratchets until the direction is again reversed at which time a flat area of the element being operated upon will again constrain the detent pin, and hence the retractable jaw element, in the locked position. A locking pin is incorporated into the mechanism for preventing retraction of the ratcheting jaw in order that the wrench can function as an ordinary open-end wrench. To facilitate working &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;blindly,&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; a spring loaded retractable ball is disposed in the stationary jaw proximate the tip thereof to provide a slight locking effect once the nut or the like is located and the wrench is slid into position. Similarly, two small retractable pins are provided, one above the other, at the base of the nut-receiving opening and function to assist in maintaining the wrench engaged with the nut or the like being operated upon by providing a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;stop&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; function against raising or lowering the working end of the wrench sufficiently to &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;lose&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; the nut. By engaging the nut in such a manner that one of the two superimposed pins is retracted and the other functions as a stop, slight pressure against the stop assists in maintaining engagement between the tool and the nut.

United States Patent [1 1 Thompson 1 3,717,054 Feb. 20, 1973 [541 OPEN-END WRENCH WITH INTEGRAL RATCHETING MEANS Robert J. Thompson, Phoenix, Ariz.

[52] US. Cl ..81/179, 81/186 [51] Int. Cl ..B25b 13/12, 1325b 13/00 [58] Field of Search ..81/53,179,180,185,l86

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1924' Pearce et al ..81/179 12/1954 Lane ..81/179 l/l956 Crittenden ..81/179 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 268,643 12/1913 Germany ..81/179 Primary ExaminerJames L. Jones, Jr. Att0meyWlliam H. Drummond et al.

[57] ABSTRACT In order to provide an open-end wrench which will ratchet in one direction to permit sequential strokes of the wrench without removing it from the element being tightened or loosened, one of the jaws is rendered controllably retractable. The retractable jaw is biased toward the unretracted position by means of a compression spring disposed behind the retractable jaw element which is oriented to move linearly in a guide slot angularly toward and away from the element being operated upon as the ratcheting function is carried out. A detent pin extends through the retractable jaw element in a direction normal to a flat surface grasped within t he jaws and is spring loaded toward the jaw surface. The other end of the detent pin comprises an enlarged head portion which restrains the detent pin compression spring on its undersurface and is curved on its upper surface to function as a detent cooperating with a recess in the stationary portion of the jaw carrying the retractable jaw element. The detent pin serves to lock the retractable jaw element in the grasping position so long as a flat area of the grasped element is flush with the detent pin end which causes the head end of the pin to remain locked in the detent bore. However, when the direction of the wrench is reversed, the natural tendency of the flat area of the element being operated upon to move away from the jaw surface proximate the detent pin coupled with pressure exerted on the retractable jaw element in an area nearer the open end of the wrench permits the pin to lift slightly and relax the retractable jaw element which is pushed angularly rearwardly from its locked position and ratchets until the direction is again reversed at which time a flat area of the element being operated upon will again constrain the detent pin, and hence the retractable jaw element, in the locked position. A locking pin is incorporated into the mechanism for preventing retraction of the ratchetin jaw in order that the wrench can function as an or inary open-end wrench. To facilitate working blindly, a spring loaded retractable ball is disposed in the stationary jaw proximate the tip thereof to provide a slight locking effect once the nut or the like is located and the wrench is slid into position. Similarly, two small retractable pins are provided, one above the other, at the base of the nut-receiving opening and function to assist in maintaining the wrench engaged with the nut or the like being operated upon by providing a stop function against raising or lowering the working end of the wrench sufficiently to lose" the nut. By engaging the nut in such a manner that one of the two superimposed pins is retracted and the other functions as a stop, slight pressure against the stop assists in maintaining engagement between the tool and the nut.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENH'U FEBZO I375 SHEET 1 OF 2 I INVENTOR. ROBERT J. THOMPSON II -E ATTORNEYS PAIENTEUFEBZOIQH I 3,717, 054

SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR.

ROBERT J. THOMPSON OPEN-END WRENCH WITH INTEGRAL RATCIIETING MEANS This invention relates to the manual tool arts and, more particularly, to an open-end wrench with provision for ratcheting.

The difficulty of utilizing ordinary open-end wrenches in confined or hidden (that is, out of sight of the operator) areas are notoriously will known to those skilled in the art. Under such conditions, it is often very difficult to position the open-end wrench onto the nut or the like being operated upon even once, and most operations require a considerable number of rotary movements to complete the desired operation. With ordinary open-end wrenches, this requires that the wrench be lifted from the driven element, readjusted angularly and engaged once again with the driven element to repeat the rotary movement which, in confined spaces, can be exasperatingly small. As a result, an operation which would be extremely simple if adequate room and vision were available becomes time consuming and extraordinarily difficult and often results in minor, but aggravating, injury to the hands of the operator. Thus, it will be apparent that it would be highly desirable to provide an open-end wrench with integral means to ratchet combined with other means for assisting the maintenance of engagement with the nut or the like being operated upon whereby the open-end wrench may function in the ratcheting mode.

It is therefore a broad object of my invention to provide an improved open-end wrench.

It is a more specific object of my invention to provide an open-end wrench with integral ratcheting mechanism incorporated therein.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide such an open-end wrench which is simple in construction and reliable in operation.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide such an open-end wrench which can be operated as a conventional end wrench.

A still further object of my invention is to provide such an open-end wrench which includes means for assisting the operator in maintaining engagement between the end wrench and the nut or the like which is being operated upon.

The subject matter of the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an end wrench incorporating the ratcheting mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway detail view illustrating the internal mechanism of the wrench including additional structure utilized to assist the operator in maintaining contact with a nut or the like;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partially cutaway detail illustrating the ratcheting mechanism in a first, driving position;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 illustrating the retractable head in a retracted position; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 illustrating a pair of vertically disposed,

retractable pins for assisting the operator in maintaining engagement with the driven element.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it will be observed that the end wrench 1 consists of a handle portion 2 and a head portion 3 which has a generally U-shaped opening 4 for receiving a nut or other driven member in the manner well known in the art. The U-shaped opening 4 is bounded by a stationary jaw 5 and a ratcheting jaw 6. The ratcheting jaw 6 has a retractable jaw element 7 through which a detent pin 8 extends flush with the surface thereof. A locking pin 9 extends upwardly from the face of the ratcheting jaw 6 and, as will be described hereinafter, serves to selectively lock the retractable jaw element 7 in the fully extended position whereby the wrench may be used as an ordinary openend wrench with the ratcheting function defeated.

As shown in FIG. 2, the retractable jaw element 7 moves angularly rearwardly in a bore 10 which contains a compression spring 11. The compression spring 11 normally urges the retractable jaw element 7 to the fully extended position illustrated in FIG. 2. A reduceddiameter portion 12 of the retractable jaw element 7 extends concentrically through the compression spring 11 and, during the ratcheting operation, protrudes from the rearward aperture 13 in the ratcheting jaw 6. In FIG. 2, the locking pin 9 is shown in the locked position extending behind the shoulder 14 of the retractable jaw element 7 resulting from the reduced-diameter portion 12. Thus, in FIG. 2, the retractable jaw element is not free to ratchet and must function as an ordinary open-end wrench.

As will be described more fully with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the detent pin 8, in conjunction with the compression spring 15 and a detent bore 16, controls the ratcheting function depending upon the direction in which the handle 2 is forced.

A captive ball 18 in a bore 19 near the open-end of the stationary jaw 5 is spring loaded outwardly by a compression spring 20. The function of the spring loaded ball 18 is to assist the operator in maintaining engagement with a nut once located, the ball 18 retracting as the nut is forced into the opening 4 until the flat of the nut facing the stationary jaw 5 clears the spring loaded ball 18 which then snaps outwardly to act as a gentle stop against withdrawing the wrench from the nut. Similarly, first and second vertically disposed stop pins 21 and 22 (see also FIG. 5) are captivated in bores 23 and 24, respectively, and are normally urged outwardly by compression springs 25 and 26, respectively. The stop pins 21 and 22 also assist the operator in maintaining the wrench in engagement with the nut in difficult positions as will be explained more fully below.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 3 which illustrates in detail the structure of the ratcheting mechanism within the ratcheting jaw 6. A nut 27 is shown in the process of being driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 28 and therefore one of the flats 29 of the nut 27 lies flush against the inwardly directed flat surface of the retractable jaw element 7 and also holds the outer end of the detent pin 8 flush with the surface such that the head 30 of the detent pin is forced to remain in the detent recess 16. As a result, the retractable jaw element 7 cannot move rearwardly in the bore 10 and the nut 27 is held tightly by the jaws of the wrench to be driven thereby.

If, however, the direction of wrench rotation is changed to that indicated by the arrow 2 in FIG. 4, the flat 29 of the nut 27 initially lifts slightly from the flat face of the retractable jaw element 7 in the area of the detent pin 8 while, simultaneously, the angle 32 between adjacent flats of the nut 27 bears upon the flat surface of the retractable jaw element 7 proximate its outer end to provide an impelling force for driving the retractable jaw element 7 rearwardly in the bore 10. Since the flat 29 has lifted slightly from theend of the detent pin 8 when the direction of rotation was first reversed, the head 30 of the pin has sufficient clearance to retract from the detent recess 16 to permit the retractable head element 7 to be driven rearwardly within the bore 10 and against the action of the compression spring 11. As each angle 32 of the nut 27 passes by, the retractable jaw element 7 is driven rearwardly sufficiently to achieve the ratcheting action characterized by the repetitive backwards and forwards movement of the retractable jaw 6 within the bore 10. When the wrench has been rotated sufficiently to again reverse the direction of rotation to that indicated by the arrow 28 in FIG. 3, the head 30 of the detent pin 8 is again forced into the detent recess 16 to lock the retractable jaw element 7 in the driving position depicted in FIG. 3.

As previously noted, the spring loaded ball 18, FIG. 2, assists the operator in maintaining contact with the driven element once it has been located. Additionally, the retractable pins 21 and 22, FIG. 5, provide assistance in maintaining engagement with the nut 27 by providing a "stop function in one of the two vertical directions once the nut has been firmly seated. Referring specifically to FIG. 5, it will be observed that the operator can position the nut 27 with respect to the wrench l in such a manner that the retractable stop pin 22 is in the retracted position and the retractable stop pin 21 is in the extended position and resting against the upper surface of the nut 27. When this orientation has been achieved, slight downward pressure maintained by the operator will keep the nut 27 from slipping out of engagement with the wrench in the vertical direction. Alternatively, as will be apparent from FIG. 5, the nut 27 may as easily be positioned such that the pin 21 is retracted and the nut rests on the pin 22 which is not retracted, in which case, slight upward pressure exerted by the operator will keep the nut from practice of the invention which are particularly adapted for specific environments and operating requirements without departing from those principles. For example, while the exemplary embodiment constitutes a fixed size open-end wrench, those skilled in the art will appreciate that it would be a straightforward development to incorporate the worm and follower arrangement characteristic of the well known adjustable open-end wrench into a wrench according to.

means and adapted to lock said racheting means in a fully extended element driving position when a flat of the driven element bears on said detent means and to release said racheting means when a flat of the driven element lifts from said detent means.

2. The open-end wrench of claim 1 in which said racheting means is spring-biased toward the fully extended element driving position; and said detent means comprises a detent pin having first and second ends, means for spring biasing said detent pin away from said flat surface of said racheting means, and a detent recess outwardly disposed from said racheting means in a fixed portion of said second jaw, the length of said detent pin and the depth of said detent recess being coordinated to lock said first end of said detent pin in said detent recess when said racheting means is in the fully extended position and a flat of the driven element bears on said second end of said detent pin, thereby locking said racheting means in the element driving position.

3. The open-end wrench of claim 2 which further includes a locking pin adapted for manual selective engagement with said racheting means when said racheting means is in the fully extended position to constrain said racheting means against retraction whereby said wrench may be utilized as non-racheting open-end wrench.

4. The open-end wrench of claim 2 which further includes a ball stop positioned proximate the end of said first jaw, said ball stop being captivated within a bore into said first jaw flat surface, said bore containing means for spring biasing said ball stop to extend normally, but retractably, outwardly from said first jaw flat surface a distance less than the radius of said ball stop.

5. The open-end wrench of claim 4 which further includes first and second retractable stop pins vertically spaced from one another and disposed midway between said first and second jaws, said first and second stop pins extending into the space between said first and second jaws generally parallel to the flat surfaces thereof, each of said first and second stop pins being captivated within the bore and urged outwardly by compression spring means within said bore. 

1. An open-end wrench for driving an element having a plurality of circumferentially distributed flats engaged by the wrench, said wrench comprising: A. a handle; B. a first jaw, said first jaw being stationary and having an inwardly directed flat surface; C. a second jaw; said second jaw including linearly retractable racheting means having an inwardly directed flat surface; and D. detent means extending through said racheting means and adapted to lock said racheting means in a fully extended element driving position when a flat of the driven element bears on said detent means and to release said racheting means when a flat of the driven element lifts from said detent means.
 1. An open-end wrench for driving an element having a plurality of circumferentially distributed flats engaged by the wrench, said wrench comprising: A. a handle; B. a first jaw, said first jaw being stationary and having an inwardly directed flat surface; C. a second jaw; said second jaw including linearly retractable racheting means having an inwardly directed flat surface; and D. detent means extending through said racheting means and adapted to lock said racheting means in a fully extended element driving position when a flat of the driven element bears on said detent means and to release said racheting means when a flat of the driven element lifts from said detent means.
 2. The open-end wrench of claim 1 in which said racheting means is spring-biased toward the fully extended element driving position; and said detent means comprises a detent pin having first and second ends, means for spring biasing said detent pin away from said flat surface of said racheting means, and a detent recess outwardly disposed from said racheting means in a fixed portion of said second jaw, the length of said detent pin and the depth of said detent recess being coordinated to lock said first end of said detent pin in said detent recess when said racheting means is in the fully extended position and a flat of the driven element bears on said second end of said detent pin, thereby locking said racheting means in the element driving position.
 3. The open-end wrench of claim 2 which further includes a locking pin adapted for manual selective engagement with said racheting means when said racheting means is in the fully extended position to constrain said racheting means against retraction whereby said wrench may be utilized as non-racheting open-end wrench.
 4. The open-end wrench of claim 2 which further includes a ball stop positioned proximate the end of said first jaw, said ball stop being captivated within a bore into said first jaw flat surface, said bore containing means for spring biasing said ball stop to extend normally, but retractably, outwardly from said first jaw flat surface a distance less than the radius of said ball stop. 